In November 2006, Panther Creek boys’ basketball coach L.J. Hepp did exactly what Green Hope’s Mickey Bissette did in 1999. Hepp’s piecemeal effort united sophomores who departed other Wake County schools for the new McCrimmon Parkway campus the previous August prior to starting the Catamounts’ hoops program.

Another November has come and gone, and this program’s varsity team won seven of the first eight games in the school’s second hardwood campaign — still without seniors.

“For us, it’s a non-issue,” Hepp said. “We put the uniform on every night. We feel like we have a chance to win the game.”

The signature win thus far, arguably, is a 53-47 win Friday over Wilmington Hoggard, which reached the NCHSAA 4-A tournament quarterfinals each of the last two seasons. Panther Creek led by as many as 16 in the third quarter before a Vikings rally reduced the Catamounts’ margin to 43-40 with four minutes remaining. Panther Creek led 50-47 with less than one minute to play before Aaron Toney’s pair of free throws put the Catamounts ahead two possessions for good.

“I consider him a leader,” junior Earnest Ross said of Toney. “He’s the leader.”

Never mind that Ross, a 6-foot-4 wing, netted a game-high 25 points, while no other Panther Creek player reached double figures.

“He’s a more important person than me,” Ross continued. “He has to get me the ball. … He’s actually considered the leader on the team.”

Toney, a 6-6 junior post, was credited with just six points, but set up another nine. His ability to draw defenders to the high post and make the right pass yielded a Ross basket and three successful free throws after Ross was fouled while attempting a long-range shot.

“When we run set offenses, it helps create some of our balance offensively,” Hepp said. “After these guys have had experience playing games in the 40s and 50s, we’re going to be fine.”

Ross scored seven points in the last four minutes for a team that made 12 of 15 free throws in the first half. All five Catamounts starters — including guards Brandon Oliver and Mike Hood along with 6-5 post Marques Oliver (all juniors) — have scored in double figures this winter.

“If we could have Earnest plus the other four guys all in double digits,” Hepp said, “I think that’s pretty hard to guard.”